by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... You see, JBEI’s team believe they have come up with the solution in a new generation of ionic liquids. What are ionic liquids, anyway? They are environmentally benign organic salts. In this case, salts that are liquids
Department of Energy (DOE)
Back TO HOMEFuture Fuels: Can Biofuels Make Gasoline Cleaner, Cheaper?
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the Governors' Biofuels Coalition held a briefing examining the current state and potential future of the transportation fuel supply. While combustion engines are more efficient and cleaner
June 12, 2015 Read Full Article
4 Minutes with ... Thomas D. Foust, Director, Bioenergy, Biofuels and Bioproducts Research Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Short Term: We have been focused on developing hydrocarbon biofuels conversions technologies since 2012 and I would like to see these reach the pilot scale demonstration scale. Long Term: As a national laboratory sometimes we have
June 11, 2015 Read Full Article
Sustainable, Available, Reliable Affordable Bioeconomy Feedstocks: The Hottest Slides from ABFC 2015
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the advanced bioeconomy, the question for some time has been “how do you fund it?” or “how do you make it?”. But now, feedstock is becoming the key variable, it’s a case of “where
June 11, 2015 Read Full Article
Amid Low Prices, US Oil Output May Be Nearing Peak
by Jay Fitzgerald (Boston Globe) Is America’s energy boom coming to an end? As companies shut down oil- and gas-drilling rigs and lay off thousands of workers who toiled in shale fields in North Dakota, Texas, and elsewhere, many analysts
June 08, 2015 Read Full Article
Determination of the R Factor for Fuel Economy Calculations Using Ethanol-Blended Fuels over Two Test Cycles
by C. Scott Sluder, C., Brian West, Aron Butler, Arvon L. Mitcham, et al. (SAE) During the 1980s, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) incorporated the R factor into fuel economy calculations in order to address concerns about the impacts of
June 04, 2015 Read Full Article
High Octane Ethanol Blends for Improved Vehicle Efficiency
by Brian West (Oak Ridge National Laboratory/AmazonAWS.com) Presentation for Hudson Institute Conference, "Fueling American Growth" May 7, 2015 READ MORE and MORE (SAE)
June 04, 2015 Read Full Article
EWG Makes Untrue Claims about Ethanol
by Geoff Cooper (Des Moines Register) Letter to Editor: The Environmental Working Group’s claim that ethanol is worse for the climate than the Keystone pipeline is like saying apple juice is worse for the human body than arsenic. The Department of Energy’s
June 03, 2015 Read Full Article
The Most Complete Functional Map of an Entire Enzyme Family
(Joint Genome Institute) DOE-funded researchers develop a new process for annotating cellulose-degrading enzymes. Researchers at two Department of Energy-funded Scientific User Facilities collaborated with one of three Bioenergy Research Centers to develop and analyze high-resolution crystal structures of an enzyme from
June 03, 2015 Read Full Article
4 Minutes with… Tim Donohue, Director, Great Lakes Bioenergy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Great Lakes Bioenergy is a DOE, Office of Science-funded Bioenergy Research Center. Its mission is to develop ways to produce ethanol, advanced biofuels and chemicals from the non-edible, lignocellulosic part of plant biomass. The Center
June 03, 2015 Read Full Article
DOE Previews 2016 Billion-Ton Update in Webinar
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) A recent U.S. Department of Energy webinar included preview of the 2016 U.S. Billion-Ton Study update, which is currently scheduled for release in June 2016. The event, titled “A Changing Market for Biofuels and Bioproducts,”
June 02, 2015 Read Full Article
How the Increasing Amount of Biofuels Affect Land Management
(ECN Magazine/Argonne National Laboratory) The handling of agricultural crop residues appears to have a large impact on soil's ability to retain carbon, making land management practices increasingly important, especially under a scenario where cellulosic materials become more heavily used as
May 30, 2015 Read Full Article
8 Hot Targets in Advanced Bioeconomy R&D
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Fuels, chemicals, pathways, and microbes that could shake it all up ... (H)ere are 8 Hot Targets that we can point to that could be game-changers in the world of making fuels, chemicals and biomaterials from
May 30, 2015 Read Full Article
USDA to Invest Up to $100 Million to Boost Infrastructure for Renewable Fuel Use, Seeking to Double Number of Higher Blend Renewable Fuel Pumps
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest up to $100 million in a Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership to support the infrastructure needed to make more renewable fuel options available
May 29, 2015 Read Full Article
New NREL Report: Most Retail Fueling Equipment is Already E15 Compatible
(Renewable Fuels Association) The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released a new study today that found most of the existing fuel dispensing infrastructure components — including underground storage tanks — are compatible with E15. The researchers interviewed retail fuel equipment
May 29, 2015 Read Full Article
Sen. Ron Wyden Introduces Grant Program to Improve Biomass Innovation
by Jaclyn Brandt (Fierce Energy) Oregon Senator Ron Wyden has been working to increase the use of biomass in his state and the country, and has introduced another bill with the goal of improving technologies for woody biomass. The bill, the
May 19, 2015 Read Full Article
Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee Meets in May
(Department of Energy/Federal Register) This notice announces an open meeting of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee under Section 9008(d) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 amended by the Agricultural Act of 2014. May 20, 20158:30 a.m.-5:30
May 19, 2015 Read Full Article
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center: Basic Research for Cellulosic Biofuels in the US
by Danilo Gusmão de Quadros* (Advanced Biofuels USA) This reports on part of a trip to Wisconsin to visit the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC), University of Wisconsin (UW), a dairy farm that uses biogas production and the World
May 19, 2015 Read Full Article
Bioenergy Innovations Presented at Department of Energy BETO Project Peer Review
by Osaretin Omorodion* (Advanced Biofuels USA) During late March 2015, the US Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) offered what amounted to a seminar for the public consisting of a series of presentations from industry professionals and researchers
May 19, 2015 Read Full Article
18 Pilot and Demonstration DOE Bioenergy Projects, Reviewed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What’s the latest with such projects such as Frontline BioEnergy, Myriant, POET-DSM, INEOS Bio, Sapphire Energy, Abengoa, Haldor Topsoe, UOP. ZeaChem, Mercurius, and American Process, among others? In Washington this June 25th, the Department of Energy
May 18, 2015 Read Full Article
Quadrennial Energy Review Contains Clues on Federal Biofuels, Biomass Priorities
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ... And while not a major focus of the report, the QER contains language pertaining to biofuels and bioenergy which give some hints as to the top-level goals for DOE for biofuels and biomass power. ... The
May 08, 2015 Read Full Article
4 Minutes with… Philip T. Pienkos, Ph.D. Principal Group Manager Bioprocess R&D National Bioenergy Center, NREL
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... NREL is the only national lab devoted solely to the development of technologies applied to renewable energy and energy efficiency. In the National Bioenergy Center, we are focused on conversion of renewable feedstocks (cellulosic biomass,
May 08, 2015 Read Full Article
The DOE’s 12 Top Biobased Molecules – What Became of Them?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... If they handed out Platinum and Gold certification to scientific papers as we do with recorded music, “Top Value Added Chemicals from Biomass” would be a multi-platinum chart-busting monster. This 2004 survey, completed by staff
May 04, 2015 Read Full Article
Algal Progress Report
by Valerie Reed (US Department of Energy/Industrial Biotechnology) (D)etails the promise of algae as a renewable energy source and describes the BETO-funded research, development, and demonstration projects that have resulted in significant technological advances to help overcome the challenges of
April 30, 2015 Read Full Article
BETO’s 2015 Project Peer Review Presentations Now Online
(US Department of Energy) Visit the 2015 Project Peer Review Web page to download individual project and plenary presentations from BETO’s 2015 Project Peer Review. The peer review process provided BETO with feedback about the management of each of its technology
April 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Argonne Leadership Computing Facility Supercomputer Helps Identify Materials to Improve Fuel Production
(Newswise/Argonne National Laboratory) With access to supercomputing resources at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility, a research team from the University of Minnesota and Rice University has demonstrated a
April 29, 2015 Read Full Article
Discovery of New Plant Switch Could Boost Crops, Biofuel Production
(Michigan State University) A team of Michigan State University researchers has discovered a switch that regulates plant photosynthesis – the process that lets plants store solar energy and use it to grow and produce food. Photosynthesis stores energy in two forms
April 28, 2015 Read Full Article
Major Advance in Artificial Photosynthesis Poses Win/Win for the Environment
by Lynn Yarris (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Berkeley Lab Researchers Perform Solar-powered Green Chemistry with Captured CO2 -- A potentially game-changing breakthrough in artificial photosynthesis has been achieved with the development of a system that can capture carbon dioxide emissions before
April 28, 2015 Read Full Article
New Study Highlights Fast Pyrolysis Bio-Oil Yields of 17-27% from Cellulosic Feedstocks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington state, a new study released in the journal Energy & Fuels is providing the first, fully integrated assessment of common feedstocks from the field to refinery-ready crude fuel, based on hydrotreatment or fast
April 27, 2015 Read Full Article
The Catalyst That Refused To Die
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Battelle-led group succeeds in US Department of Energy challenge — 1,000 hours of continuous biomass hydrotreating on a single catalyst charge. The undefeated champ hits 1200 hours before being retired from the ring. Next stop,
April 24, 2015 Read Full Article
Scientists at the J. Craig Venter Institute Publish Paper Outlining Efficient Synthetic Biology Methods to Genetically Engineer Microalgae
(J. Craig Venter Institute) Results have important implications in developing algae-based products such as biofuels and chemicals -- Scientists from the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), a not-for-profit genomic research organization, published a paper today (April 21, 2015) outlining new
April 24, 2015 Read Full Article
Earth Day: 3 Big Reads for a Sustainable BioFuture
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Three reports have arrived this week that help – especially in the corner of sustainability relating to biobased energy, fuels and products. One led out of Brazil, tapping the efforts of 137 researchers at 82
April 21, 2015 Read Full Article
Malloy's Rhode Island Company Recognized for Use of Biodiesel
(vtdigger.org/TH Malloy and Sons) Jim Malloy, of Plainfield, Vermont, is being recognized for his contributions to reducing the use of petroleum fuel in the transportation sector. His business, TH Malloy and Sons in Newport, Rhode Island, is being recognized with
April 13, 2015 Read Full Article
Direct Conversion of Plant Biomass to Ethanol by Engineered Caldicellulosiruptor bescii
by Daehwan Chung, Minseok Cha, Adam M. Guss, and Janet Westpheling (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) The ever-increasing demand for transportation fuels, the decrease in global petroleum reserves, and the negative impact of greenhouse gases resulting from burning petroleum
April 13, 2015 Read Full Article
FFV Fleet Can Serve as Bridge to More Efficient, E30-Burning Vehicles
(25 x '25) ... The latest report, which is from experts at the DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), describes a study that explores the potential performance benefits of high-octane ethanol blends in the legacy fleet of nearly 18 million flex-fuel
April 13, 2015 Read Full Article
Algenol Joins U.S. Mission to China
(Algae Industry Magazine) Fort Myers, Florida-based Algenol has joined the U.S. Secretary of Energy, Ernest Moniz, and the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker, on a business development mission to China. Other influential companies including GE, Southern Company, Honeywell, Praxair,
April 08, 2015 Read Full Article
The Algae Whisperer
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A new project aims to capture atmospheric CO2, affordably, using traits and techniques known to algae for millenia. ... To date, no one has figured out how to get the CO2 out of the air, or the air
April 07, 2015 Read Full Article
Confronting and Solving “Chicken or Egg” Conundrums in Renewable Project Development
by Tim Sklar (Biofuels Digest) Looking to turn vicious project financing cycles into virtuous cycles? This case study in developing a small-scale Bio-LNG plant offers cautionary tales and a way forward. In July 2014, Biofuels Digest had published an article titled
April 07, 2015 Read Full Article
Update Released to BETO’s Multi-Year Program Plan
(US Department of Energy) The Bioenergy Technologies Office is pleased to announce the release of its newly updated Multi-Year Program Plan (MYPP). The MYPP sets forth the goals and structure of the Office. It identifies the research, development, demonstration, market
April 06, 2015 Read Full Article
'Renewable Super Premium' Offers Boost to Biofuel Producers, Auto Industry
(25 x '25) A group of DOE National Laboratory representatives have been in Washington this week making presentations to promote the benefits of what they call “Renewable Super Premium” (RSP) fuels. The researchers have found that ethanol fuel blends of
March 27, 2015 Read Full Article
Innovation Unleashed: Sportscar Racing Takes Next Step toward Driving Technology and Renewable Fuel Development
by Natalie Committee (U.S. Department of Energy) As motorsports enthusiasts know, racing innovation once meant turbine-powered Indy cars and six-wheeled formula cars, but those days are mostly over. Today, Green Racing encourages the use of innovative technologies that foster energy efficiency
March 26, 2015 Read Full Article
BioenergizeME Social Media Campaign Starts Soon!
(U.S. Department of Energy) We invite you to participate in the upcoming bioenergy social media campaign for BETO’s education and workforce initiative, OPERATION BioenergizeME. Between April 13 and 23, high school-aged teams around the country will be promoting their bioenergy infographics to
March 26, 2015 Read Full Article
Coloring and Activity Book
The Coloring and Activity Book was developed by Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) as part of its OPERATION BioenergizeME initiative. It is designed for children as a fun learning tool to inform them about bioenergy and raise their awareness of alternative
March 26, 2015 Read Full Article
Five Harvesting Technologies are Making Biofuels More Competitive in the Marketplace
(U.S. Department of Energy) It may look like ordinary farm equipment, but take a second look. This innovative machinery was developed with Energy Department funding to help biofuels become more affordable. Looking more closely at this image and accompanying infographic,
March 26, 2015 Read Full Article
Investment from Flagship Ventures Brings Red Rock Biofuels Closer to Construction of its First Commercial Biofuel Refinery
(Red Rock Biofuels) Red Rock Biofuels LLC, a pioneer in renewable biofuels, today unveiled a strategic partnership with Flagship Ventures that sets the stage for the construction of its first commercial scale refinery in Lakeview, OR. As part of this partnership,
March 17, 2015 Read Full Article
Energy Department Announces $6 Million to Accelerate Alternative Fuel Vehicle Market Growth
(U.S. Department of Energy ) The Energy Department announced today $6 million for 11 projects aimed at improving potential buyers’ experiences with alternative fuel and plug-in electric vehicles, supporting training, and integrating alternative fuels into emergency planning. By removing barriers
March 10, 2015 Read Full Article
Biofuel Proteomics: Joint BioEnergy Institute Researchers Use Proteomics to Profile Switchgrass
by Lynn Yarris (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) If advanced biofuels are to replace gasoline, diesel and jet fuel on a gallon-for-gallon basis at competitive pricing, we’re going to need a new generation of fuel crops – plants designed specifically to serve
March 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Timely Implementation of Farm Bill Programs Is Vital for the Advanced Biofuels and Renewable Chemicals Industry
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Industry Organization/Biofuels Digest) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced funding for the Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI) as well as published the final rule for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). BIO and the industrial
March 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Find Policies & Incentives by State
(North Carolina State University/US Department of Energy) DSIRE is the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States. Established in 1995, DSIRE is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology
March 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Metabolic Path to Improved Biofuel Production
(EurekAlert!/US Department of Energy Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Researchers with the Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI), a partnership that includes the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the University of California (UC) Berkeley, have found a way to increase the
March 05, 2015 Read Full Article
BETO’s 2015 Project Peer Review March 23-27 Alexandria, VA
The Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is hosting the 2015 Project Peer Review on March 23–27, 2015, at the Hilton Mark Center, in Alexandria, Virginia. Approximately 185 projects in BETO’s research, development, and demonstration portfolio will be presented to the public
March 04, 2015 Read Full Article
BioenergizeME Infographic Submission Deadline Approaching
(U.S. Department of Energy) The deadline for submissions for the Spring 2015 BioenergizeME Infographic Challenge is approaching! Please submit all infographics by March 20 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time. The BioenergizeMe Social Media Campaign will take place April 13–23. Check
March 04, 2015 Read Full Article
Department of Agriculture and Energy Department Announce Up to $8.7 Million through the Interagency Biomass Research and Development Initiative
(US Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the Energy Department announced that up to $8.7 million in funding will be made available through the Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI) to reduce the nation’s dependence
March 03, 2015 Read Full Article
NREL Report Provides Documentation of the Advanced Biorefinery Landscape
(Department of Energy) The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released a report in January 2015 on the status of the non-starch ethanol and renewable hydrocarbon biofuels industry in the United States. The report, 2013 Survey of Non-Starch Ethanol and Renewable
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
Experimental Investigation of Spark-Ignited Combustion with High-Octane Biofuels and EGR. 2. Fuel and EGR Effects on Knock-Limited Load and Speed
Derek A. Splitter and James P. Szybist (Oak Ridge National Laboratory/Energy & Fuels) The present study experimentally investigates spark-ignited combustion with 87 AKI E0 gasoline in its neat form and in midlevel alcohol–gasoline blends with 24% vol/vol isobutanol–gasoline (IB24) and
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
The Good News on Ethanol: U.S. a ‘Biofuels Superpower'
by Dan Morgan (Des Moines Register) ... President Barack Obama didn’t mention ethanol, biofuels, or agriculture in his State of the Union address, even as he boasted that the country was “number one in oil and gas.” Yet a thriving renewable
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
USDA, DOE Farm and Fuels Funding Updates
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) USDA and DOE announced a raft of grant and loan opportunities and funded projects, many of them funded through the 2014 Farm Bill. On February 20, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE's) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO),
February 27, 2015 Read Full Article
Novel Pretreatment Could Cut Biofuel Costs by 30 Percent or More
(Science Daily/University of California-Riverside) Researchers have invented a novel pretreatment technology that could cut the cost of biofuels production by about 30 percent or more by dramatically reducing the amount of enzymes needed to breakdown the raw materials that form
February 27, 2015 Read Full Article
2015 Sun Grant Conference: Academia Jumps One Step Forward and Shows What Will Be the Future of Lignocellulosic Biomass Production and Utilization in the Southeastern USA
Author, Dan Quadros, in Auburn, Alabama.by Danilo Gusmão de Quadros* (Advanced Biofuels USA) After two days (February 2-3, 2015) in “Sweet Home Alabama” at Auburn University, we got overwhelmed with the most recent discoveries of cutting-edge research that were presented
February 25, 2015 Read Full Article
What’s New, Different and Hot in Military and Aviation Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In the world of aviation biofuels, the bands and the bunting are rolling out less frequently. But mostly, because the sector has moved out of a noise-filled early R&D phase and is heading towards deployment.
February 20, 2015 Read Full Article
E15’s Big Dance
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The future is bright as hundreds of E15 stations are in the works with many expected to open, writes Bob Dinneen of RFA. It’s still early in the game for E15 and
February 17, 2015 Read Full Article
UGA Researchers Develop Super Yeast that Turns Pine into Ethanol
(University of Georgia/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Researchers at the University of Georgia have developed a "super strain" of yeast that can efficiently ferment ethanol from pretreated pine, one of the most common species of trees in Georgia and the U.S. Their
February 16, 2015 Read Full Article
E15 Would Reduce 358,000 Tons of CO2 Emissions Annually in Minnesota
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Making E15 (gasoline with 15 percent ethanol) the new regular unleaded fuel in Minnesota would eliminate 358,000 tons of CO2 annually, according to a technical analysis by the University of Illinois at Chicago. In response to a query
February 16, 2015 Read Full Article
Marine Industry Consortium Confirms Positive Test Results Using Gevo's Isobutanol in Boat Engines
(Gevo) Tests Demonstrate That Isobutanol-Blended Gasoline Meets Performance Requirements of the Multi-Billion Gallon Marine Fuel Market A consortium of leading organizations from the recreational marine industry has completed more than four years of testing Gevo's (Nasdaq:GEVO) renewable isobutanol in marine engines. Thousands
February 16, 2015 Read Full Article
US, California Double Down on Climate Change, Energy Security via New Initiatives
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Obama unveils Clean Energy Investment Initiative; California lawmakers introduce a trio of bills aimed at 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In Washington, the Obama Administration launched its Clean Energy Investment Initiative, with a
February 12, 2015 Read Full Article
Engineered Yeast Turn Three Carbon Compounds Into Ethanol
by Jyoti Madhusoodanan (Chemical & Engineering News) Biofuels: Yeast designed to ferment compounds found in treated biomass could boost biofuel production When biofuel producers turn agricultural waste into ethanol, they start by treating the biomass with acid to hydrolyze complex carbohydrates
February 11, 2015 Read Full Article
PNNL Awarded for Algal Biofuel Innovation
(Algae Industry Magazine) Developing renewable fuel from wet algae is one of the latest innovations Richland, Washington-based Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has successfully driven to the market with the help of commercial partners. As a result, the Federal Laboratory
February 09, 2015 Read Full Article
$500/BOE Profit from Algae? Yes We Can!
by Stafford “Doc” Williamson (Biofuels Digest) ... The US Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has a plan. Specifically it has a 5 year plan known as the Multi-Year Program Plan (and with the typical zeal of most
February 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Report Based on False Assumption of Either-Or Land Use Approach
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) In the World Resources Institute (WRI) working paper, “Avoiding Bioenergy Competition for Food Crops and Land,” the authors work off the assumption that land-use decisions are used making an “either-or” approach, i.e., land can either
February 08, 2015 Read Full Article
DOE Accepting Comments on Engineered High-Energy Crop Proposal
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy has published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the availability of the Engineered High Energy Crop (EHEC) Programs Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
February 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Government App to Help Companies Export Clean Energy Solutions
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The International Trade Administration has published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Department of Energy are providing U.S.-based suppliers and providers of certain
February 06, 2015 Read Full Article
OriginOil Joins Idaho National Laboratory In Project Proving Algae For Biofuels
(OriginOil) Disinfection capabilities of OriginOil technology may help make giant open-air ponds feasible for large-scale fuels production OriginOil Inc. (OTC/QB: OOIL), developer of Electro Water Separation™ (EWS), the high-speed, chemical-free process to clean up large quantities of water, announced today that it
February 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Is Bureaucracy Holding Back Advanced Biofuels?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Why must “the entire value chain of production from feedstock to finished product be conducted at a single location” asks Antoine Schellinger, VP of Strategy and Technology at Triten IAG. Should a regulatory burden for tracking
February 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Industry Honors Champions, Career Long-Achievements
(The National Biodiesel Board/Biodiesel Magazine) ... NBB recognizes the 2015 “Eye on Biodiesel” award winners this week. The honorees are: Innovation Tom Butcher, Brookhaven National Laboratory. Brookhaven National Laboratory is one of the premier U.S. DOE national laboratories and the leading technical institution for
February 06, 2015 Read Full Article
The Words that May Not Be Said: Biofuel, Ethanol, Biodiesel, Renewable Jetfuel
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Absent from President Barak Obama’s State of the Union Message and from remarks made by Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz at the DC Auto Show, the words “biofuel,” “ethanol,” “biodiesel,” “renewable jetfuel” or any variation
January 23, 2015 Read Full Article
Energy Secretary Moniz Unveils More Than $55 Million to Advance Fuel Efficient Vehicle Technologies
(US Department of Energy) Following the State of the Union Address on Tuesday, January 20 in which President Obama highlighted the surge in U.S. manufacturing and the strong growth in the auto industry, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz today announced more than
January 23, 2015 Read Full Article
Argonne Model Analyzes Water Footprint of Biofuels
by Greg Cunningham (Argonne National Laboratory) A new version of an online tool created by the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory will help biofuels developers gain a detailed understanding of water consumption of various types of feedstocks, aiding
January 16, 2015 Read Full Article
Algae Biomass Organization Applauds Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) for Supporting Carbon Utilization Technology
(Algae Biomass Organization) Senators urge Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency to support carbon utilization throughout their programs. The Algae Biomass Organization, the trade association for the algae industry, applauded U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Joe Manchin (D-WV)
January 15, 2015 Read Full Article
Enzyme Could Create Biofuels 14 Times Faster than Current Methods
by Bill Scanlon (National Renewable Energy Laboratory/Renewable Energy World) Scientists at the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have developed an enzyme that could change the economics of biofuel conversion by converting biomass to sugars up to 14 times
January 14, 2015 Read Full Article
Shale vs OPEC: What’s Going on with Oil Prices? Will the Bleeding Stop, and When?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Here’s what’s going on, as illustrated in this EIA chart, which shows the imbalance between increases in demand and the increases in non-OPEC production. In short, non-OPEC oil is being dumped on the market faster
January 14, 2015 Read Full Article
Colorado's Red Rock Biofuels Investing $200M in Jet-Fuel Project
by Wendy Culverwell (Portland Business Journal/Denver Business Journal) Red Rock Biofuels LLC, based in Fort Collins, is investing $200 million in a biofuel refinery in the rural southern Oregon community of Lakeview. ... The Red Rock project will convert up to 140,000
January 13, 2015 Read Full Article
Improving the Way We Harvest And Deliver Biofuels Crops
(U.S. Department of Energy/Breaking Energy) America is the largest biofuels producer in the world — accounting for 48 percent of global output. To remain the global industry leader, the Energy Department is investing in projects that address critical barriers to
January 12, 2015 Read Full Article
Moniz: Low Crude Prices Unlikely to Change US Energy Policies
by Nick Snow (Oil & Gas Journal) Crude oil prices below $50/bbl could force some producers to reduce capital expenditures if they go on for long, but are not likely to change US energy policies, according to US Sec. of
January 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Sensenbrenner Introduces Legislation Requesting Redundant E15 Study
by Gary Truit (Hoosier Ag Today) On Tuesday, Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) once again introduced legislation – H.R. 21 – that would hinder the growth and expansion of E15. The legislation would revoke current approval of E15 and require additional
January 08, 2015 Read Full Article
Speeding Cyanobacteria Growth “Brightens” Biofuel’s Future
by Mary Beckman (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory/R&D Magazine) Rapidly growing bacteria that live in the ocean and can manufacture their own food hold promise as host organisms for producing chemicals, biofuels and medicine. Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
January 07, 2015 Read Full Article
Is Cellulosic Ethanol the Next Big Thing in Renewable Fuels?
by Sena Christian (EarthIsland.org) For a long time it seemed like turning the inedible parts of plants into a commercially viable biofuel, known as cellulosic ethanol, was nothing more than a pipedream. The enzymes needed to release sugars from cellulose
January 06, 2015 Read Full Article
NASA Should be the Key to the Crucial Development of Large Scale Bio-Jetfuel and Rocket Fuel End-to-End Production
by Robert E. Kozak* (Advanced Biofuels USA) In looking at ways to jump-start this country’s bogged down production of biomass based jetfuel (Jet-A, JP-5, JP-8) and rocket fuel (RP-1/2), the early history of the US space program should serve as a
January 02, 2015 Read Full Article
The 41 Weirdest Things Ever Used to Make Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Bunnies, liposuction fat, Prince Charles’ leftover wine, day-old whale, the human poo bus, fire ants dipped in hexane, old beer, raging fireballs, vibrating blobs, dope, and even the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Take your pick and,
December 31, 2014 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Aided by Controversial Federal Program
by Henry C. Jackson (Capital Press/Associated Press) The refinery in Hugoton, Kan., built by Seville, Spain-based Abengoa, is the largest cellulosic biorefinery in the world. At the RV Park he owns in a remote corner of southwestern Kansas, Jan Leonard is
December 30, 2014 Read Full Article
U.S. Department of Energy Launches SBIR/STTR Phase 0 Assistance Program
(Dawnbreaker/PR NewsWire) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has officially launched its first ever SBIR/STTR Phase 0 Assistance Program, aimed at helping eligible small R&D businesses and individuals successfully apply for SBIR/STTR federal funding from the DOE. Since the program
December 29, 2014 Read Full Article
The DOE’s Shifting Worldview for Biofuels Deployment, Now through 2030
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Feedstock costs and challenges come under the microscope as the DOE reports new data on algae-based feedstocks and terrestrial crops too. Can algae-based biofuels reach full commercial scale by 2030? The Digest investigates. Twice this year, the
December 29, 2014 Read Full Article
Small but Tough: Iridium Nanoparticles Resist Deactivation in Biofuel Production
(Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) Scientists characterized catalysts to determine ability to convert methane to more valuable fuels Results: Steam reforming turns methane from biomass into a mixture that can be further converted into transportation fuels. By combining experimental and theoretical approaches,
December 23, 2014 Read Full Article
$3M Grant Supports Bioenergy Development
(State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry) Work focuses on making renewable feedstocks more affordable The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded up to $3 million to the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) to
December 22, 2014 Read Full Article
Three Ways Renewables Could Benefit From Low Oil Prices
by Jeff McMahon (Forbes) ... International Energy Agency director Maria van der Hoeven and U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz appeared together Thursday at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington DC, where van der Hoeven presented the findings of IEA’s 2014 review
December 19, 2014 Read Full Article
University of Minnesota Report Contains Inaccurate and Misleading Information on Ethanol
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) The recent report released by the University of Minnesota, “Life Cycle Air Quality Impacts Of Conventional And Alternative Light-Duty Transportation In the United States,” contains several inaccuracies and misleading information. In particular, its conclusion that corn-based ethanol contains more
December 19, 2014 Read Full Article
Biofuel Facts for the Road: The Energy Department and Your Gasoline Pump
by Alicia Moulton (US Department of Energy) Going “over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house” this holiday season could require a significant amount of gasoline if you’re traveling by car. Before you hit the road to visit relatives
December 18, 2014 Read Full Article
BETO Releases Process Integration and Carbon Efficiency Workshop Summary Report
(US Department of Energy) On June 11–12, 2014, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) hosted a workshop in Lakewood, Colorado, to discuss research and development (R&D) opportunities related to the
December 18, 2014 Read Full Article
Students Share Experiences from First Run of BioenergizeME Virtual Science Fair
(US Department of Energy) Last week concluded the beta run of the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) sponsored BioenergizeME Virtual Science Fair—a high school competition that has students create and share infographics about bioenergy concepts. Student teams from five high schools
December 18, 2014 Read Full Article
Time for Teddy Talk
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There are times for TED Talks about wondrous advances in technology and the future that awaits us. Then, there are times for Teddy Talks: of practical progress, problem solving, and turning wondrous advances into
December 15, 2014 Read Full Article
Hemp Produces Viable Biodiesel, UConn Study Finds
by Christine Buckley (University of Connecticut) Of all the various uses for Cannabis plants, add another, “green” one to the mix. Researchers at UConn have found that the fiber crop Cannabis sativa, known as industrial hemp, has properties that make it viable and
December 12, 2014 Read Full Article
Lifting America’s Game in Climate Education, Literacy, and Training
(The White House Office of Science and Technology) ... Continued progress into the future will depend on ensuring a climate-smart citizenry and a next-generation American workforce of city planners, community leaders, engineers, and entrepreneurs who understand the urgent climate-change challenge and are equipped
December 08, 2014 Read Full Article
Vertimass Receives Up to $2 Million Grant From U.S. Department of Energy to Convert Ethanol Into Jet Fuel, Diesel Fuel, and Gasoline
(Vertimass) "Green" Catalyst Technology Will be Commercialized Into Stocks Compatible With Current Transportation Fuel Infrastructure Vertimass LLC announced today the company has received a grant of up to $2 million from the U.S. Department of Energy. The grant was awarded to
December 03, 2014 Read Full Article
Sweet Smell of Success: JBEI Researchers Boost Methyl Ketone Production in E. coli
by Lynn Yarris (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Two years ago, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) engineered Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria to convert glucose into significant quantities of methyl ketones, a class of chemical compounds
December 03, 2014 Read Full Article
14 for ’15: The Bioeconomy Agenda, 2015
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) 14 perspectives on policy, technologies and geographies of compelling interest in the new year -- At ABLC Next this year in San Francisco — naturally, the focus is on “what’s next” in technology, finance, deployment
December 01, 2014 Read Full Article
Vitruvian Energy Crowdfunding to Make EEB, a Trashy Biofuel
By John Beltz Snyder (AutoBlogGreen) When sewage is treated at a wastewater treatment facility, biosolids are the byproduct. After being separated from the water, biosolids are usually sent to a landfill or incinerated. That doesn't mean that they're without value,
November 24, 2014 Read Full Article
Cornstalks Aren't Just for Scarecrows Anymore
by Reanna Trudell and Daniel Adams (US Department of Energy) ... Our scientists have identified corn stover, which includes the corn plant’s stalks, husks, cobs, and leaves, as a plentiful and reliable feedstock for producing bioenergy. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS,
November 20, 2014 Read Full Article
WEBINAR: Genetically Modified Algae: A Risk-Benefit Assessment
(US Department of Energy) As the algae industry continues to invest in the research and development of genetic modification (GM) to optimize biofuels production, biocontainment systems and regulatory policies will play key roles in avoiding potential impacts on the environment.
November 20, 2014 Read Full Article
Lab Discovery: Water Leads to Chemical that “Gunks Up” Biofuels Production
(US Department of Energy/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) Study shows water trips up key chemical reactions that turn plants into fuels, provides scientific principles that can speed up biofuel development ... Trying to understand the chemistry that turns plant material into the
November 20, 2014 Read Full Article
Bioenergy Technologies Office Issues Multi-Year Program Plan: November 2014 Update
(US Department of Energy) This Multi-Year Program Plan (MYPP) sets forth the goals and structure of the Bioenergy Technologies Office. It identifies the research, development, demonstration, and deployment activities the Office will focus on over the next five years and
November 20, 2014 Read Full Article
‘Welcome to the Future’
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Construction on Abengoa’s self-powered cellulosic ethanol facility is complete. But that doesn’t mean efforts to innovate are over. Javier Garoz Neira, CEO of Abengoa Bioenergy, told attendees at the company’s grand opening celebration they were
November 20, 2014 Read Full Article
Researchers Discover New Digestive Strategy in Shipworms
by Greg St. Martin (News@Northeastern) An international research team led by Dan Distel, director of the Ocean Genome Legacy Center of New England Biolabs at Northeastern University, has discovered a novel digestive strategy in shipworms. The breakthrough, the researchers say,
November 14, 2014 Read Full Article
U.S. Department Of Energy Loan Program Breaks Even
by Nichola Groom (Reuters/Huffington Post) The controversial government program that funded failed solar company Solyndra, and became a lighting rod in the 2012 presidential election, is officially in the black. According to a report by the Department of Energy, interest payments
November 13, 2014 Read Full Article
Energy Department Announces New Investments in Gasification Research
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today, as part of the Administration’s all-of-the-above energy approach, the Department of Energy has selected four projects to receive funding for next-generation gasification systems that also reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Awardees will receive approximately $16
November 13, 2014 Read Full Article
To Boldly Go Where No Biomanufacturing Has Gone Before
(Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News) ... But mass-efficient payloads should be possible, insist researchers at the University of California, provided space explorers make use of nontraditional biological techniques. In particular, these researchers say synthetic biology should give space missions a
November 12, 2014 Read Full Article
Energy Department Announces New Grant Topics to Help Small Businesses Develop Clean Energy Technologies
(US Department of Energy) The Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) today announced nine topics and 26 new subtopics under its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Technology Transfer (STTR) programs that will help small businesses
November 12, 2014 Read Full Article
Biofuel Opportunity: Reviving Algae from the (Almost) Dead
by Bill Scanlon (National Renewable Energy Laboratory/Renewable Energy World) Tucked away in darkness and almost dead, algae can emerge from a frigid and foggy environment to live again — and perhaps even become the seeds for a new beginning that
November 05, 2014 Read Full Article
EIA Reports Ethanol Use Has Lowered Gasoline’s Energy Content – Only Half of the Story
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) On October 27, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that the use of ten percent ethanol in the gasoline supply has lowered gasoline energy’s content by three percent in a 20 year period. According to
November 03, 2014 Read Full Article
Funding Opportunity Announcement: Systems Biology Research to Advance Sustainable Bioenergy Crop Development
The fund solicits projects on systems-level research to better understand molecular and physiological mechanisms that control bioenergy crop vigor, RUE, resilience/adaptability, etc., and systems biology-enabled investigations on the role of microbial communities on multi-scaled interactions of the plant-soil environment in
November 03, 2014 Read Full Article
Secretary of Energy Emphasizes Partnership between Brazil and United States in Biofuels Event on Amazon Cooperation
by Laís Thomaz* (Advanced Biofuels USA) On October 30, 2014, U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz gave the keynote speech at the event “FAPESP-U.S. Collaborative Research on the Amazon,” promoted by a partnership between the Department of Energy (DOE) and
November 03, 2014 Read Full Article
Synergistic Catalysis between Pd and Fe in Gas Phase Hydrodeoxygenation of m-Cresol
by Yongchun Hong, He Zhang, Junming Sun, Karim M. Ayman, Alyssa J. R. Hensley, Meng Gu, Mark H. Engelhard, Jean-Sabin McEwen , and Yong Wang (ACS Catalysis) In this work, a series of Pd/Fe2O3 catalysts were synthesized, characterized, and
October 31, 2014 Read Full Article
4 Minutes With…Seth Snyder, Water Initiative Leader, Argonne National Laboratory
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... After a decade as the bioenergy technology leader, I just created a new role building a new initiative in water. Water is a critical barrier to sustainable energy in general, and bioenergy in specific. I
October 31, 2014 Read Full Article
Researchers Win Funding for Miscanthus, Sorghum Research
(University of Illinois/Biomass Magazine) Two University of Illinois crop sciences researchers interested in improving plant feedstocks for bioenergy production were selected to receive funding by the USDA and the U.S. Department of Energy as part of a larger Obama administration
October 31, 2014 Read Full Article
Study Casting Doubt on GHG Benefits of Corn Stover Ethanol Draws Sharp Criticism by Other Researchers; Liska Responds
(Green Car Congress) A study published earlier this year in the journal Nature Climate Change that cast doubt on whether biofuels produced from corn residue could meet federal mandates for cellulosic biofuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% compared
October 31, 2014 Read Full Article
DOE Highlights Algae for Targeted Research Grants
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the US Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announcednine topics and 26 new subtopics under its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Technology Transfer (STTR) programs that will help small
October 31, 2014 Read Full Article
Five Things to Know about Biorefinery Investments
by Alicia Moulton (U.S. Department of Energy) ... These cellulosic ethanol plants managed by Abengoa, POET-DSM, and INEOS are three of the fifteen active integrated biorefinery projects under the Energy Department’s Bioenergy Technologies Office. Also, three new companies were awarded contracts
October 30, 2014 Read Full Article
Racing with Relevance: Green Racing Redefines Sustainable Motorsports
by Reuben Sarkar (US Department of Energy) Green Racing is helping to bring new levels of "Clean, Fast, and Efficient" to motorsports competition and consumer vehicles through the announcement of this season’s Green Challenge Award and its new Green Racing Protocols. On
October 30, 2014 Read Full Article
Creative Discovery Museum Launches New Biofuels Website
(Creative Discovery Museum) Did you know that fuel can be made from things like switchgrass, algae and trees? They’re called biofuels and they are all around us. Creative Discovery Museum has created a new educational website, LearnBiofuels.org that will help you
October 29, 2014 Read Full Article
Report: Increased Ethanol Drops Energy Content of Gas
by Christopher Doering (Des Moines Register) The growing use of ethanol in the country's gasoline supply has reduced the average energy content of a gallon of gasoline by about 3 percent during the last two decades, the government said Monday. The
October 29, 2014 Read Full Article
Boosting Biogasoline Production in Microbes
by Lynn Yarriss (Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory) Joint BioEnergy Institute Researchers Combine Systems Biology with Genetic Engineering to Improve Production of Isopentenol in E.Coli In the on-going effort to develop advanced biofuels as a clean, green and sustainable source of liquid transportation
October 29, 2014 Read Full Article
BlueFire Plays the China Card? Ex-Im Bank of China Issues $270M LOI for Mississippi Biofuels Project
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, BlueFire Renewables has received a Letter of Intent from The Export Import Bank of China (China EXIM) to provide up to $270 million in debt financing for its 19 million gallon bioenergy project
October 27, 2014 Read Full Article
DE-FOA-0001179: Landscape Design for Sustainable Bioenergy Systems and Webinar
(US Department of Energy) EERE is seeking interdisciplinary projects that apply landscape design approaches to integrate cellulosic feedstock production into existing agricultural and forestry systems while maintaining or enhancing environmental and socio-economic sustainability including ecosystem services and food, feed, and
October 21, 2014 Read Full Article
National Algae Association Encourages US Algae Producers to Label Algae-based Products “Made in the USA”.
(National Algae Association) The National Algae Association is pleased to see commercial algae production taking place in the US, and is encouraging all US-based algae producers to label their algae products made in America “Made in the USA.” Those that qualify should
October 20, 2014 Read Full Article
Abengoa Celebrates Grand Opening of Its First Commercial-Scale Next Generation Biofuels Plant
(Abengoa/GlobeNewswire) U.S. Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback and Kansas Senator Pat Roberts offer remarks during on-site event commemorating landmark occasion for advanced biofuels industry. Abengoa's proprietary enzymatic hydrolysis technology turns crop residue (stalks, stems and leaves)
October 17, 2014 Read Full Article
Energy Department Announces $13.4 Million to Develop Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Energy Department announced today (October 9, 2014) up to $13.4 million for five projects to develop advanced biofuels and bioproducts that will help drive down the cost of producing gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from
October 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Letter: Extensive EPA Testing Found New Ethanol Fuel E15 Safe for Commercial Use
by Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association/The Roanoke Times) ... What about the auto industry? How did it respond to E15? More than 70 percent of new cars sold today are warrantied for E15 use. In fact, all new General Motors, Ford,
October 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Where Are We with Algae Biofuels? Parts 1 and 2
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The state of R&D so far. 4 NAABB advances have brought the cost of algae biocrude oil down to $7.50 per gallon. 3 roadblocks remain between today’s cost and $3.00. In our two-part series, we look first
October 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Argonne Lowers Land Use Change GHG Emissions for Corn Ethanol
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The estimation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to land use change (LUC) for corn ethanol has been ratcheted down by Argonne National Laboratory. The recently published manual for the Carbon Calculator for
October 10, 2014 Read Full Article
Advanced Ethanol Makers Are Trying To Give Big Oil A Run For Its Money
by Ken Silverstein (Forbes) Big Oil can’t put the brakes on a new renewable fuels factory in Iowa — one that will seek to supplement petroleum with next-generation cellulosic ethanol. The “Project Liberty” facility will consume 285,000 tons of biomass
October 10, 2014 Read Full Article
Earth to Cellulosic Ethanol: Glad You’re Here, Buddy, What Took so Long? Parts 1 and 2
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cellulosic ethanol arrives at scale — “The five years away forever” put to rest — but are there troubling waters still ahead? For whom, and why? Part I of II There’s a gigantic disconnect between two sections
October 10, 2014 Read Full Article
DE-FOA-0001211: Transportation Energy Resources from Renewable Agriculture (TERRA)
(US Department of Energy) There is an urgent need to accelerate energy crop development for the production of renewable transportation fuels from biomass. Recent technological advancements have now made it possible to extract massive volumes of genetic, physiological, and environmental
October 02, 2014 Read Full Article
National Algae Association Claims That Algae Won't Be Grown in Washington, DC
(National Algae Association/PR.com) After over 6 decades of time, and billions of dollars spent at the direction of the Department of Energy and other government agencies, one thing is for sure – algae for fuels will never be grown in
October 02, 2014 Read Full Article
Stover Pellets Pack in the Pounds
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Pelletizing corn stover offers some tantalizing prospects. Where it is virtually impossible to load a truck to maximum weight with bales, one could with pellets. The densification process improves bulk density by a
October 01, 2014 Read Full Article
Boosting Biomass for Bioenergy
by Katie Fletcher (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Many dedicated energy crops hold promise as feedstocks for next-generation ethanol. Extensive R&D is still needed, however, to overcome the challenges in making these plants viable for commercial applications. ... This year, $12.6 million was awarded to
October 01, 2014 Read Full Article
DE-FOA-0001162: Targeted Algal Biofuels and Bioproducts (TABB)
(US Department of Energy) The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is issuing, on behalf of the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0001162, entitled “Targeted Algal Biofuels and Bioproducts (TABB)”. The TABB FOA seeks alternative
September 30, 2014 Read Full Article
4 Minutes With..Valerie Reed, Deputy Directory, Bioenergy Technology Office, Department of Energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) She’s officially listed as Deputy Director of the Bioenergy Technology Office at DOE — but I count at least two terms as interim director, and totaling I believe over a year in that post. ... Valerie’s seen
September 26, 2014 Read Full Article
Bacteria Found in Cow Rumens Could Be Harnessed to Process Biofuel
(University of Wisconsin-Madison) What do biofuels look like on the Wisconsin landscape? Some might think of corn or switchgrass. But what about that herd of cows? What you can’t see might fool you. Cows are walking natural biodigesters, says CALS
September 25, 2014 Read Full Article
US Navy, DOE, USDA Award $210M for 3 Biorefineries and Mil-Spec Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Washington, the Department of Defense has awarded $210 million under the Defense Production Act to Emerald Biofuels, Fulcrum BioEnergy and Red Rock Bio towards the construction of biorefineries that produce cost-competitive, drop-in military biofuels. Under the grants, the
September 19, 2014 Read Full Article
4 Minutes With…Blake Simmons, CSTO, VP-Deconstruction Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... This is Blake Simmons — known primarily as the Vice President of Deconstruction at JBEI — which sounds like he’s the Galactic Master-Blaster of lignocellulose. And, yes, he is indeed, as one of the primary forces
September 18, 2014 Read Full Article
A Looming Cellulosic Feedstock Shortage?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As the first wave of cellulosic biorefineries launch — is there really enough affordable feedstock for the next wave? Can growers make enough money to justify the switch…and risk? ... It’s not all that different with the first
September 16, 2014 Read Full Article
Alabama Gets First-In-World Carbon-Negative Algae Biofuel
by Tina Casey (CleanTechnica) …What you do is you take long, durable plastic bags, fill them with a nutrient-rich growing medium (wastewater, in this case), throw in some algae, and let sunlight work its magic. The algae grow quickly in the